Two teen girls were killed last fall in a hit-and-run in Cranford - and one of their families is speaking out for the first time.

The 17-year-old Cranford High School seniors, Isabella Rose Salas and Maria Niotis, were killed while riding on an electric bike on Burnside Avenue in November. A 17-year-old boy from Garwood was charged with two counts of first-degree murder for allegedly crashing into the victims and driving away.

A spokesperson for the Union County Prosecutor’s Office says that the suspect was initially detained and questioned soon after the incident on Monday. The spokesperson said that the suspect was released later that day. The suspect was then arrested on Wednesday morning and taken into custody on the murder charges.

News 12 learned that the suspect is related to the Westfield chief of police. Chief Christopher Battiloro admitted in a statement that he is related to the suspect but stated that the suspect is not a member of his immediate family.